DOMINION NEWS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 31, 5 February 1913, Page 2

DOMINION NEWS.

(Per Press Association.) Wellington, February »• Mr J. W. Collins, of the Labour Department, having completed an inquiry in Wellington regarding the shortage of labour in the manufacturing industries, felt this evening for the South to pursue his investigations. After visiting Christchurch and Dunedin ho will go to Auckland. Of the large number of immigrants who arrived last evening by the Reuiuera only about 20 have so far applied to the Labour Department in search of work, as nearly all were prepared for country employment. No difficulty was found in placing them. A GOLD FIND. Westport, February 4. A find of apparently considerable importance to this district has been made in the Swastika Gold Mining Company’s property at Mohikinui, where a series of shots have disclosed free gold in a reef 18 feet in thickness. The shots took place 70 feet in on the reef. There is no diminution in the sulphides. The majority of the shares in the Development Company are held in Wellington. •CIVIC IMPROVEMENTS. Dunedin, February 4. Polling took place to-day in connection with the proposals to borrow £12,000 to complete the Jlorough sewerage scheme, and £25,000 for improvements to McLean and Nelson Parks. A small proportion of ratepayers recorded their votes, and both proposals were carried. THE PARLIAMENTARY PARTY. Dunedin, February 4. At the meeting of the Dunedin Presbytery to-day reference was made to the fact that the northern Parliamentary party, while in Otago and Southland, had utilised Sundays for travelling round districts. It was resolved: “That the Presbytery reregrets that, so far as appears from reports in the press, members of Parliament who recently visited Otago, in carrying out their programme of travel, ignored the sanctity of the Lord’s Day, and thereby set an example before the community, which becomes all the more baneful because of the exalted positions which they occupy.” ANTI-MILITARISTS. Christchurch, February 4. At a largely-attended meeting of the General Labourers’ Union to-pght the following motion .was unamrnpusly agreed to: “That* this union Views with disgust the prosecuting of boys two or three times for one-offence, faking away of their civic rights* and the garnisheeing of their wages, and urges upon citizens to do all in their power to lessen the birth-rate until the Defence?;Ait is ropchlFd.” CRUELTY TO ANIMALS’.' TU hint Christchurch, February 4. At a meeting of the Society for the Prevention of Crffelty to Animals, the inspector reported that oh a certain Friday last month 3000 sheep were landed from the Chatham Islands and were driven to a paddock, where they were left till Sunday morning, when as many as could walk were driven over the hills to Heathcote. The day , was particularly hot, and the majority of the sheep were knocked up. The sheep were placed in a small paddock without food or water, and on Monday morning those that could walk were driven away. About a hundred dying sheep were left in the paddock. The inspector was instructed to place the facts before the Society’s solicitor, and to prosecute if so advised. ' y \ COWARDLY ASSAULT ON YOUNG LADY. Auckland, February 4. A cowardly assault upon a young lady occurred at Mount lid on on Friday night as the result of which she is now confined to her house suffering very much from shock. Early on Friday evening a young lady who lives at Mount Eden had occasion to visit the city. She returned by tram at 10.10' p.m., and got out at the Symonds street section, and walked down Eden Terrace. As she turned into AVynyard Road site became conscious that someone was walking very close behind her. She was too frightened to turn round to see who it was, so she kept straight on towards her destination. Suddenly, and without the slightest warning, an arm was swung behind her and she received a violent blow on the mouth. The force of the blow knocked one tooth out and felled the young lady to the ground. Though dazed by the blow she had sufficient presence of mind to scream loudly for assistance, whereupon her assailant then tried to muffle her cries by placing his hand over her mouth. Her cries, however, had been heard by people living near by, and they rnshedo ut,o nly to sec a dark shadow moving off' at a rapid pace. . The young lady was assisted to her, foot and taken into a house close by. Her face was badly lacerated and, as was only natural, she was suffering! very much from shock. The person who committed the outrage did not attempt to rob the young lady or in any other way molest her, and no reason can be assigned for the cowardly assault. A PERSISTENT RESISTER. Nelson, February 4. At the Magistrate’s Court to-day, Robert L. Thompson, Senior Cadet,

was charged with refusing to take the oath of allegiance, and was fined £5, in default 14 days’ military detention. The father of the boy urged .religious scruples against military training. Defendant had previously been fined for the same offence. CLOSING OF A SCHOOL. Auckland, February 4, An announcement was made sopto time ago of the Auckland Education Board’s intention to close the Chapel street School, t ns 1 was act *llt).rt stnm cf protests and petitions, and public meetings added their pleadings to the appeal of the committee that the school should be retained for the benefit of the children of the neighbourhood. The Board has, however, turned a deaf ear to all appeals and arguments for when some 230 children rolled up outside their old school this morning to resume work after the holidays, they found the doors locked so that none might enter. A good deal of bewilderment was expressed on the faces of the young folk at this strange experience of lock-out. With not a few the prospect of “still more holiday” was clearly, not displeasing. Meanwhile, the City Schools Committee of the Board has issited instructions to the headmaster of the Nelson street school to receive all pupils and to use all available space in the room and corridor to accommodate those who apply for admission. M.P.S ON TOUR. Dunedin, February 4. The tour of the northern membra s of Parliament \u Southland concluded to-day, v hen a visit was made to the Glut ha Valley, ten. cars covering 70 mdes from and back to the starting point at ba'clmha. At Tuapeka month a good reception was met with, and M r Malcolm said that the people wantod a railway tip the Valley, a distance of 21 miles. Ho had been assured that the line could be constructed for £93.000, and would serve 189,000 acres of country. Mr Mander, replying for the visitors, said that he was quite coitaiu that the people were entitled to the railway, and if the Government could not find the money let the residents build the line themselves, and the Government, if necessary would take it over later. He reiterated the statement at a lunch at Clydevale, raid Mr ')key supported it, and a i.ocater! the utility of light lines of railway. The party returned to Balclutha in time to catch the afternoon train to Dunedin. Messrs Mander, Okey. Wilkinson, Escott, Bradney, Rhodes and Harris came to town, and will go north to-morrow. Mesrss Sykes, Bollard and Wilson, with their wives, will remain in Balclutha, and spend a few further days in Otago. YOUNG MAN’S THREATENING BEHAVIOUR. Invercargill, February 4. A young man appeared at the Police Court to-day on a charge of drunkenness. Detective Cameron stated that the defendant had been for some days past freely presenting a revolver, and yesterday, while coming into "town in a taxi-cab, threatened to shoot' the driver. The police were informed of the man’s peculiar demeanour, and arrested him on arrival of the taxi-cab. He had been drinking heavily of late, and the police asked for a remand for a week, to see if the defendant’s behaviour was due to drink or other causes. The remand was granted.